Your Majesty, Please Stop!

Chapter 294: The Strategy of Confucianism

After a frank discussion between the six major families at the Yumen military camp, and the exchange of official documents between the two sides, the alliance and submission were considered complete.

On the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, Xin Zhuo led two hundred thousand cavalry back to the capital of Xinglingzhou, where the people welcomed him along the way.

For the people, gentry, and merchants of the three provinces and eighteen prefectures, Jiang Yuqing was like a benefactor sent from heaven, saving tens of millions of people from disaster. They didn't have many thoughts, as whoever brought them a good life would be loved, respected, and supported.

Upon returning to the government office, Jiang Hu, who had just recovered from a long illness and had been at odds with his nephew for a long time, led hundreds of civil officials to welcome Xin Zhuo warmly.

Later, the uncle and nephew had a deep and frank conversation in the private hall of the prince's residence.

Jiang Hu seemed to have figured it out. After all, his nephew was not an outsider, and the outcome could no longer be changed. After the Western Qin army followed Jiang Yuqing, he couldn't even mobilize a single soldier. He simply accepted his fate.

In the future, whether it was rebelling or being a loyal minister to the court, since he couldn't oppose it, he could only follow his nephew to the end.

After Jiang Hu left, Xin Zhuo was caught in a dilemma and distress. The Western Qin army was about to run out of food. After the great battle, there were many things to be done. Taxes had to be reduced, the people had to be resettled, the city walls had to be repaired, and the army had to be reorganized and trained.

Suddenly, he felt a pressure similar to that of an emperor. How could such a vast territory be governed? After all, the Western Qin region and the recently conquered territories of the ten countries expanded the territory by thousands of miles. How should the tens of millions of Hu people in the Western Regions be appeased?

Now that the royal families of the ten countries had been escorted to Xinglingzhou, how should the large group of imperial concubines, princes, princesses, and nobles be dealt with?

How should the complicated forces of the old aristocracy of the ten countries be arranged? Should they all be killed?

There was also the need to continue with the next plan. Should they continue to conquer the three countries of the Gui Fang or gather a large army to guard against the court's front-line army and the Shen Ce army?

The three countries of the Gui Fang were powerful frontier nations in the Western Regions and not easy to conquer. It was afraid that it would be a protracted war, a war of attrition with heavy losses.

Would guarding against the court's army immediately lead to a two-front war, with the Gui Fang countries taking advantage of the situation to cause trouble? The situation of being attacked from both sides was not easy to handle.

Now that the court's intentions had been exposed, which was to kill Jiang Yuqing, they even dispatched the Eastern Master and the four Venerables of the White Crane Hill, which was a devastating force. However, Jiang Yuqing managed to survive and even turned the tables in adversity, counter-killing and counter-expelling.

Therefore, for the old politicians of the court, they had to reassess his power. The next attack and conspiracy would probably be more fierce and brutal.

Considering all these factors, Xin Zhuo, who was a former bandit with memories from his past life, felt an increased pressure and his mind went blank.

He focused all his thoughts on the upcoming spirit sacrifice and cultivation.

The true spirit of the Western Qin army could still be tapped into for the spirit sacrifice. Whether to rebel or continue to conquer other countries was uncertain.

But no matter what, the Western Qin region must not be destroyed, otherwise, the chips for survival would be gone.

This was the current situation, and he could no longer cause trouble everywhere like he used to. Every action would have far-reaching consequences.

The Great Hall was quiet.

Xin Zhuo stared at the bamboo slips containing the internal affairs of the Western Qin region, lost in thought, making marks and annotations.

Sitting below were Cui Ying'er, Han Qiniang, and Sai Qingzhu, the five women, silent.

It was Xiong Zhang, who had always given the impression of being "big-breasted and brainless" and as beautiful as an elf, who spoke first: "Is the prince worried about military expenses, the land of the three provinces and eighteen prefectures of the Western Qin, and the territory and people of the ten countries?"

The women looked at her in surprise. To be honest, she had the closest relationship with the prince and had always been spoiled by him.

Xin Zhuo also looked at her and nodded, saying, "Yes."

Xiong Zhang smiled and said, "Why not increase revenue and reduce expenditure, eliminate unnecessary expenses, prioritize the army's food and forage, as the army is the foundation of the Western Qin. Then, think about the people. The first thing is to encourage the gentry to donate money and food, and give them the same official status. Let's all get through this difficult time together."

Cui Ying'er, Han Qiniang, Sai Qingzhu, and the others were amazed. She spoke with great insight.

The beautiful face of Xiong Zhang revealed a hint of pride, and Tsundere snorted.

Xin Zhuo shook his head and said that there was no problem with what was said, but it was extremely difficult to handle the myriad of issues. These matters required the collaboration of civil officials and the military. Without capable manpower, it's easy to talk on paper.

Just as he was thinking about it, capable manpower arrived!

Jiang Yuxi's voice came from outside the door: "Commander, Tai Xun Gong has returned!"

Xin Zhuo suddenly stood up, forgetting to put on his boots. He rushed out of the study with only socks on his feet.

The women exchanged glances and quickly followed.

Outside the Great Hall, on the main road of the government office, Tai Xun Gong, with his white hair and upright posture, had arrived with a group of scholars.

"Teacher, you've worked hard!"

Xin Zhuo hurriedly went up to greet him, first bowing, then grabbing Tai Xun Gong's old hands, his eyes shining with excitement.

At first, when he saw Tai Xun Gong, he thought the old man was talking nonsense. He himself looked down on skilled scholars. But in conquering the ten kingdoms of the Western Regions, at least half of the credit belonged to Tai Xun Gong and his group of eloquent scholars.

Moreover, scholars were the best at governing the country and the world.

So, this group of eloquent speakers had become precious again.

Tai Xun Gong looked at Xin Zhuo's bare feet, his eyes revealing a hint of excitement. He first paid a big salute: "I have seen the Prince."

Then he looked at the two people beside him and smiled lightly: "Old Chu, Sir Liu, how are you?"

A middle-aged man in his forties with three strands of beard and a woman in her thirties with a big mouth and an ugly appearance both bowed, their eyes burning: "This humble one is Song Laochu/Yu Sir Liu, and we have seen the Prince!"

Xin Zhuo looked at Tai Xun Gong and felt a slight movement in his heart. Tai Xun Gong and these two people were all great Venerables, not to mention their formidable Martial Dao skills.

They were a group of talented individuals skilled in both civil and military affairs.

Tai Xun Gong smiled faintly: "Prince, these two are wise men of the Western Region's scholarly community. They have contributed a lot to the strategy of conquering the ten kingdoms!"

"We have long admired the three of you, like a long-awaited rain after a drought. Come, let's go into the hall. I have prepared fine wine and delicacies."

Although Xin Zhuo found this kind of courtesy disgusting, he still put on a smiley face, grabbed the hands of the two people, and instructed Sai Qingzhu and the others: "Go and prepare!"

The women understood and returned to the palace first.

After Xin Zhuo and Tai Xun Gong, along with more than thirty scholars, entered the Prince's palace, a feast of delicacies, fruits and vegetables, musicians, and dancers were already prepared.

Once seated, music, dance, and fine wine flowed abundantly.

For a group of scholars, this was the ruler's recognition, a glory earned after ten years of studying and selling themselves to princes and kings. Naturally, they were happy!

Xin Zhuo seemed to be very happy as well. The smile on his face never disappeared as he occasionally glanced at everyone. He realized that his mentality had become very realistic now. Whoever is useful to me, I will give them glory and wealth. If they bother me, then they can go to hell.

Fortunately, it seemed that Tai Xun Gong saw through his thoughts. He smiled faintly: "Prince, there are five difficulties now!"

Xin Zhuo was surprised: "Oh?"

Tai Xun Gong said, "The first difficulty is how to govern the three provinces and eighteen prefectures after the great war, as well as the former territories of the ten kingdoms in the Western Regions. The second difficulty is the military provisions for the five hundred thousand troops. The third difficulty is how to arrange the royal and noble families of the ten kingdoms. The fourth difficulty is whether the three ghost factions should be attacked and destroyed. Looking at Xin Zhuo's expression, he paused and said, "The fifth difficulty is how to resist the attitude of the court."

(End of this chapter)